November 9 2007 "In The Crosshairs"

In The Crosshairs Newsletter

November 9, 2007

SCI Lion
Farm Bill Stalled…For Now


“Senate negotiators are working behind the scenes to forge an agreement on farm bill amendments, but they do not expect votes to proceed until next week. The multibillion-dollar bill overseeing farm, conservation and energy programs for the next five years has stalled in the Senate as Democrats and Republicans spar over how to move forward on amendments. The bill came to a standstill when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced earlier this week that he would only allow certain amendments, and Republicans refused to go forward until he addressed some of their concerns. Reid wants to keep the farm bill from slow-moving debates on the estate tax and other pet issues of the GOP. Republicans argue the estate tax is relevant for farmers.The hold-up on the farm bill comes as the legislation is already running behind schedule. Agriculture Committee members had hoped to complete the bill before the current farm bill expired in September. Members on both sides of the aisle have said it will be difficult to complete the bill if it runs over into next year, because of the presidential election.” (Source: E&E Daily)

SCI Lion
SCI Enters Grizzly Delisting Lawsuit


Safari Club International and the Safari Club International Foundation will represent the hunting community in defending against a lawsuit that challenges the delisting of the grizzly bear in the Yellowstone area of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. On November 7th, Judge Edward J. Lodge of the U.S District Court in Idaho granted SCI’s request to participate as “amicus curiae” (friend of the court). The Court chose to allow SCI to participate as amicus, rather than as an intervenor, to allow SCI to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the states of Wyoming and Idaho, defend the FWS’s decision to delist the recovered grizzly bears of the Yellowstone area. SCI’s goal is to prevent the grizzly bear from being returned to the ESA list. An ESA listing deprives the states of their management authority, including their ability to prevent adverse impacts on ungulate populations and to allow sustainable hunting in the future. Gaining “amicus” status allows SCI to emphasize the importance of basing wildlife management on science and to voice the interests of the hunting community on the recovery of predator species.

SCI Lion
SCI Hosts Shooting Sports Roundtable Meeting


SCI held the 2nd meeting of the Hunting and Shooting Sports Roundtable on Thursday, November 8th, in their Washington, D.C. office. This meeting brought together representatives from all major federal land management agencies – BLM, FWS, Forest Service – and a mix of representatives from the ‘Hook and Bullet’ community. Topics included ways to increase access for hunters and shooters on federal lands, management of existing and future shooting facilities, and a discussion of ways to increase the involvement of the conservation community into the land management planning process. The group is chaired by Susan Recce of the NRA. SCI will keep you posted on anything substantial in future editions of In the Crosshairs.

SCI Lion
Time is Running Out to Cast Your Vote for Lowell Baier


As you've seen in recent editions of In the Crosshairs, Lowell Baier has been nominated for the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year. Voting ends on November 30, so if you have not had a chance to visit the Budweiser website and vote for Lowell please take the time to vote today. Lowell has committed to donating the $50,000 prize for important conservation efforts at Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch, the birthplace of the modern conservation movement. SCI has been a supporter of this project and by voting for Lowell you can help further the work of SCI. For more information on the Elkhorn Ranch project and how to vote for Lowell Baier and support this historic effort click here.

SCI Lion
Watch “Impi the Wonder Dog” on SCI’s Expedition Safari


Tune in this Saturday morning for one of the most incredible episodes of Expedition Safari yet. “Impi” the Jack Russell terrier was named after the warriors of the early Zulu Tribe in South Africa. Watch Impi live up to his namesake by running into a charging herd of Cape Buffalo. PH Gerald Conway of Nomad Safaris describes how his “best buddy” is also an invaluable hunting tool. Impi will also help out on a mountain reedbuck and red hartebeest hunt. This episode is scheduled to debut Saturday morning, with re-airs on Monday and Friday. Check your local listings for show times in your area. Expedition Safari airs on the Versus Network (formerly OLN).

SCI Lion
Veteran’s Day on Public Lands


“United States veterans, members of the U.S. armed forces and their families will be admitted free of charge on Veterans Day, Sunday Nov. 11, to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and most other public lands managed by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture. The fee waiver applies to veterans, as well as Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve service members and their families. The administrative fee waiver of entrance and standard amenity fees applies annually on Veterans Day at public recreation lands managed by Interior's National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation and Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service.” (Source: USFWS)

THANK YOU Veterans! 11-11-07